Page 12 of Nines's Time

Hours later, I’m waiting on Nerd to get to the clubhouse. I’d called him and broke the news as only I could. Knowing my son the way I do, his ass hung up on me after saying he was on the way. I’m sure Cara, his ol’ lady, will be with him. One thing about Nerd is he doesn’t let that woman out of his sight if he can help it. I don’t blame him, considering the bullshit they’ve been through in the past.

Sitting at the bar, nursing a beer I had one of the prospects get for me, I keep thinking about the past. Rain left earlier to go with Storm and Chelsea to get some things for Storm and Blow’s house. To my surprise Blow even let them go, taking the babies with them. The damn man has become even more protective of Storm lately. I wasn’t all that thrilled when he got with my girl, but only because she’s my little girl. Maybe not by blood, but I raised Storm alongside Nerd, and she’ll always be my daughter no matter what.It doesn’t take DNA to make a family.

“Yo, Sniper.”

I jerk my chin upward as I glance at Keys as he joins me. “What’s up?” I ask, hoping he might have something for me.

“Was able to track down a little bit of information on Meadow,” he informs me and motions to the prospect to bring him a drink.

“What did you find?” I clench the bottle in my hand and wait for Keys to answer me. From the look on his face, I’m not sure I want to know, but I need to, all the same.

“It wasn’t much. Was born in a small hospital. Birth certificate confirms Libby as her mom.”

“Does it say who the father is?”

“Yep, name on it is Johnathan Branch.”

I feel my blood freeze in my veins at the mention of the name. “Come again?”

“You heard me. Johnathan Branch.”

Well, fuck me. This just got more damn fucked up. No wonder Meadow is so damn nervous around me. She’s Johnathan’s daughter, and he and I look damn near identical. Whatever her issues are, they stem from him. But when I saw Johnathan last, he didn’t have a kid. At least not that I knew of. Granted, that was years ago. After everything with Libby disappearing, everyone else pretty much parted ways altogether. Well, those not within the club.

Fuck.

“You have anything else on Meadow?”

“Not much other than she went to school. Made good grades and worked for her dad until she herself disappeared.” He shrugs and takes the beer the prospect sets in front of him. “I’ll keep looking, but I’ve got to focus on this shit with the Crimson Blood Clan and Nines.”

“Yeah.” I nod and finish my beer. “Don’t worry about it. Nerd’s coming, and he’ll help with both sides of things. We’ll get this dealt with and hopefully put a stop to the bastards.”

Nines doesn’t need this shit on him. He’s a good VP. He might have had his faults, but after he got his head back right, he’s not done a damn thing wrong where this club is concerned. One thing about the man is he always puts others before himself.

For a brief moment, I think about the way he looked at Meadow . . . nope, not my business. I’m not getting involved, and I sure as hell ain’t pushing a brother on the girl who, for all intents and purposes, is technically my niece.

Then again, Nines being with Meadow would ensure she’s safe no matter what.

I swear my woman is rubbing off on me the older I get, and it’s not a damn good thing. Not one bit.

CHAPTERNINE

NINES

“So, what we have right now,” Markus grumbles, leaning his forearms on the table and glancing between Blow, Lucky, and myself. “The girl’s name is being kept out of things as they’re claiming her to be a minor. But from what I gathered together alongside Adams, the girl was paid off. A runaway who was paid a mint to make the claim that she was raped by Nines. The detectives are keeping her hidden.”

“They can’t do that, can they?” I demand, keeping my cool.

“If the situation calls for it . . . yes. However, we know all of this is bullshit and what they’re doing is keeping me and the rest of you from finding her and getting her to admit the truth. Shit, for all we know, they could’ve killed her already, although I doubt it. I’m sure it’s not lost on them who I am and that I’ll demand all evidence, which I will. I’m just waiting on them to give me what I’ve not been given yet.”

“How long’s this shit gonna take to clear Nines?” Blow asks, leaning back in his chair and tapping his fingertips on the table.

“Don’t know, but I’ll get his ass free of this shit. Just need time to do it,” Markus states, meeting my gaze. “I’ll get your name clear, Nines. You can trust me on that.”

“I’m due in court in a week for an arraignment hearing,” I mutter. “Will we be having to go to court?”

“I’m working on it, but we’ll be pleading not guilty,” Markus informs me and glances down at the watch on his wrist. “Fuck, I’ve got to get going. Got another meeting. Hopefully, we’ll have good news soon, considering this next meeting is with a state representative who doesn’t seem to be taking too kindly to what I’ve told him so far.”

“This representative happen to be anyone we know?” Lucky smirks knowingly.

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